Review Blog

Dec 30 2015

Fall by Sean Williams

Twinmaker 3. Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743316481
(Age: 15+) Recommended. This, the third book in the series, is the
best so far. This is a fast paced, action packed scifi novel that
doesn't leave the reader time to catch a breath.
Clair is trying to restore her world and her relationships. The
complexities of perception, intention and memory are explored
through the incarnations of Claire and her friends/foes. This novel,
though set in the future, presents many conundrums that are
currently evolving in our society: 3D printing of food and medicine;
3D printing of human enhancements; bioprinting. The characters in
the novel provide many interpretations and options for managing
these complex issues.
This book allows the reader opportunities to grapple with the
ethical considerations of Artificial Intelligence and teams well the
ideas of Nick Bostrom when he stated: "Machine intelligence is the
last invention that humanity will ever need to make," during his TED
Talk What happens when our computers get smarter than we are?
South Australian readers will also enjoy the reference to Kupa-piti
ultramaximum-security penitentiary. The name Coober Pedy is said to
have developed from the Aboriginal "kupa piti", meaning "white man
in a hole". In August 2004 the Australian government abandoned plans
for the nuclear waste dump at Coober Pedy, but it seems Williams has
put the site to another 'out of sight out of mind' use.
Linda Guthrie
Editor's note: Published as Hollowgirl in the UK (Electric
Monkey, ISBN 9781405264419)